Plans to redevelop a busy Cambridge junction have been hailed a “major step forward” but residents have said they would like to see more focus on affordable housing.

Community group Friends of Mitcham’s Corner said its members were “delighted” the junction’s potential had been recognised after being “largely ignored for many years”.

The group spoke out following a public consultation on the Mitcham’s Corner Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document (SDP), which closed on Monday.

The SDP details a number of proposals for the development of the Mitcham’s Corner area, including the removal of the gyratory road layout and creating new public spaces.

In a statement, the group said: “The Friends of Mitcham’s Corner (FMC) have participated in preliminary meetings, attended the public consultation exhibitions, read through the Draft Development Framework and consulted our membership.

“The proposed framework advances the thinking about Mitcham’s Corner hugely and FMC greatly appreciate the effort and expertise which have gone into compiling it.

Mitcham's Corner in Cambridge (Image: Warren Gunn)

“We believe this represents the start of a process to facilitate successful regeneration of the area.”

Three key themes are outlined in the SDP, namely ‘creating a connected space’, improving the district centre’ and creating places for people’.

Following the public consultation, Friends of Mitcham’s Corner responded that it would like to see the removal of the gyratory system regarded a “precondition” for any redevelopment of the area.

The group also pointed to a number of additional objectives which it felt were missing from the document, including an emphasis on affordable housing.

They said: “Many of our members are uneasy about opportunistic development of aparthotels and student hostels turning the area into a dormitory district.

“These erode the cohesion of the community and its sustainability.

“At the same time, it would be destructive to Mitcham’s Corner as a thriving local centre if too many commercial premises were turned into flats. A balance must be struck.”